Digboi: Bhaskar Sharma, the sitting MLA and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, filed his nomination for Assam’s Margherita Assembly constituency on Friday morning at the Margherita Returning Officer’s office.
The filing was preceded by a roadshow that saw supporters, party workers, and leaders in a procession through key areas of Margherita town before reaching the Returning Officer’s office.
The event served as a political mobilisation exercise for the BJP, with senior leaders including Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Bhadeswar Moran, Chairperson of Tinsukia Zila Parishad, and Prem Tamang, Chairman of the Gorkha Development Council, along with several BJP office bearers and well-wishers, in attendance.
The turnout reflected the party’s organisational presence in the constituency.
At the same time, the electoral landscape in Margherita is shaping into a multi-cornered contest, with opposition parties attempting to make inroads. Rahul Chetry, a young candidate from Jagun representing Raijor Dal, and Jarnal Minj of the Joy Bharat Party have entered the race, bringing alternative political perspectives into the contest.
However, the opposition is widely seen as facing a challenge against the BJP’s established base and electoral machinery in the constituency.
Addressing the media after filing his nomination, Sharma struck a confident and assertive tone, downplaying the challenge posed by rival candidates and emphasising the BJP’s development agenda.
He stated that mere rhetoric cannot substitute for tangible progress and expressed firm belief that voters recognise the difference. “Victory will be a landslide in favour of the BJP. Mere talks cannot bring development. People today understand that the BJP has become a synonym for peace, progress, and innovation,” he said.
The Margherita Assembly constituency, which has a total of 1,76,109 voters, remains a politically significant seat in Upper Assam. Election arrangements include administrative outreach to ensure participation even in remote areas.
Notably, the smallest polling station under the constituency is located at Hanju Gaon Community Centre, catering to just 40 voters, demonstrating efforts to make the electoral process inclusive and accessible.
A two-time MLA who secured victories in 2016 and 2021, Sharma is now seeking a third consecutive term, making this election a test of both his personal political standing and the BJP’s influence in the region.
Meanwhile, sources indicate that more candidates are likely to file nominations before the deadline on March 23, which could further intensify the contest and introduce new dynamics to the electoral battle.